Tomorrow my good friends will leave to go home, but my other close friends will arrive.

Tomorrow I will kiss The Husband and The Crew and tell them how much I love them.

Tomorrow I will park my bottom in a beach chair right at the edge of the ocean and let the waves lap over me.

Tomorrow I will smile as I watch Bito and Cupcake playing in the sand and in the water.

Tomorrow I will find sand on every part of my body.

Tomorrow will be one day closer to sending Bito to kindergarten.

Tomorrow I will spoil the kids by allowing them to eat too much junk and ice cream.

Tomorrow will be a good day.

If you’d told me five years ago that I’d spend a holiday with a family that I’d essentially met online, I would’ve scoffed at you.  I mean, not that there is anything wrong with meeting people over the internet–I’ve done it several times now!  But five years ago, the idea was foreign to me and something I couldn’t fathom doing.

So yes.  My Thanksgiving was spent with a lovely family who opened their home to us.  I’d met only one of the adults there in person one time before today–the lovely hostess and chief chef of the dinner, KC of Where’s My Cape? I think she heard my whining about what to do for Thanksgiving and took pity on me, as did Jodi of Jodifur (thanks Jodi–we’re sorry we couldn’t make it with you).

KC and her family were so welcoming to us.  My family and I joined eight adults and two children.  Her daughter Jolie and Cupcake hit it off.  Her baby JL was adorable (and big!).  It was a warm time of chatting, getting to know each other better, and of course, dining together!

Jim wrote today over at DC Metro Moms about how the internet has made our world a bit smaller.  I know that I have “met” many people online, people that I would not otherwise get to know.  I may never get to see these people’s faces in real life, but this does not diminish the friendships made.  I’ve followed bloggers who have gone through major life changes, both good and bad.  I can’t not feel something for those who have written from their hearts, who have given their time and energy online to share their lives with me (and others).  I can only hope to do the same for those who are reading along here.

On the other hand…I have been lucky to meet bloggers in real life (like tonight!), both because of my personal journal and through DC Metro Moms.  How lucky am I to have the opportunity to meet different people, whose lives are not always similar to mine!  Yet, we have somehow intersected because of this thing called the internet.  So if I get the opportunity to get together with any of you in real life, I’d love to.

It’s Thanksgiving Eve day.  Last night, we made our final final decision not to travel for the holiday.  Yes, I know I said that we usually make a decision by mid-November but we The Husband was exceptionally indecisive this year.

In other news, our Thankfulness Tree is coming along nicely.  Behold:

Not too shabby, right?  I’m so glad we did this.  The kids now pipe up with what they are thankful for with very little prompting from me.  We’ll be doing this through the end of the month.  Then who knows what the next big craft will be!

On that note, I bid you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

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Can each of you please read this and forward it to a few friends, digg, stumble, hugg, twitter…

Everything!

http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/sew-urgent-help-save-my-daughters-life/

Her baby (15 year old) needs a kidney to live and the hospital thus far has failed them.

Can we? Dare we?

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I’ll be filling out my application and mailing it in as soon as I can get the kids down for their naps (and hoo boy, do they need them!).

Well, no, not quite.  Bito wakes, but he does not get up and actually go to the bathroom.  Instead, he sits in his bed and whimpers.  And calls out.  And then screams.  Until someone gives him permission to get out of bed.  Yeah.  Apparently we taught him too well when he moved into his Big Boy Bed–he stayed put until someone went to get him in the mornings or after naptime.

So anyway.  Imagine how happy we are in the wee hours of the morning to be roused from deep sleep by a screaming five year old.  Not only are The Husband and I wakened, Bito manages to get us all up since Cupcake and he share a room, and BabyMuffin’s room is between ours.  Party of five in the middle of the night!  What joy.  It’s family bonding I never imagined.

We’ve told Bito that he should just Get Up and Go!  Night-lights have been placed to illuminate his way.  We’ve role-played his actions.  We’ve used Little People as models.  And yet, he continues to call family meetings nearly every night.  *sigh*

Maybe we should just teach Cupcake to be the one to give Bito permission to get up as soon as he starts whimper.  At least some of the family could get some sleep that way!

Today I’m over at DC Metro Moms, posting for Diversity Topic Day.  Check out my post Introducing Diversity!

BananaBlueberry had mentioned that Simply Enjoy spaghetti sauce was all that she got, so I was eager to try that.  We had it this week for dinner.  And the verdict?  The kids enjoyed it as much as The Husband I did.  It wasn’t too sweet (one of my no-nos for sauces).  I think I’ve found a new favorite!

The basket also had a package of Simply Enjoy Tiramisu European Style Wafer Rolls.  I have devoured over the past two days and have been unwilling to share them with Cupcake, who has not-so-subtlely hinted that she wanted some.  I just finished the last one and I am bummed that I don’t have any more in the house.

I’m looking forward to trying more of the Simply Enjoy products.  I think chocolates are the next product I’ll have to sample.

That totally counts for my NaBloPoMo, right?

So I was flattered to be invited to an event hosted by Giant Food last week for area bloggers.  It was held at Equinox in DC and promised tips for saving time, money and sanity for the holidays.  And, they offered free childcare!  How could I resist?

I picked up Devra of Parentopia, Sarah of the Goon Squad and we headed into the city.  Soon we were at Equinox.  It was lovely to sit at a table in the middle of the day with other adults.  No highchairs by my side, children at my knee or babies in my lap.  Kid-friendly foods were not served.  I got a chance to catch up with other moms and enjoy yummy foods.

Robin Michel, Giant’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, was present to hear our concerns, comments and compliments.  She was very personable and clearly knew the stores well.  I was able to tell her how much I liked shopping with the new Scan It, which allows shoppers to scan and bag purchases as they shop.  Special coupons just for Scan It shoppers periodically appear on the scanners, and the best part?  Taking the already bagged items and scanner up to any register to simply pay.  That’s it!

After Ms. Michel talked with us for awhile, Giant’s Consumer Adviser Andrea Astrachan stepped forward. And true to Giant’s promise to share holiday tips, she did.  It was great to hear ideas for how Giant can help with entertaining for the holidays–Giant truly has an array of options to make it easy not matter how much (or in my case, how little!) I’m doing to host the big holiday meal!  Ms. Astrachan was full of awesome ideas and practical suggestions for making it a good one.

So thank you!  I am actually looking forward to having Giant help me get through it all.

Not that I’m really surprised.

I guess some things really are too good to be true.

No worries, though, Target.  I still have nothing but love for you.